The article discusses asteroid 2024 YR4, previously considered a potential "city killer." Although astronomers have ruled out an imminent collision, YR4's orbital resonance with Jupiter poses a future risk. With a 3:1 resonance, it influences the asteroid's trajectory and returns, making it essential to track such asteroids. This concept of Kirkwood gaps illustrates that while certain orbital paths appear empty of asteroids, resonant objects like those in the Alinda classification can pose significant threats if they intersect with Earth's path.
"Among asteroids, we must pay special attention to resonant ones, such as 2024 YR4, because eventually, they'll be back," Connors wrote.
While Jupiter takes roughly 12 years to orbit the Sun, asteroids like YR4 only take four, putting it in a 3:1 resonance.
The Kirkwood gaps weren't completely empty. A whole classification of asteroids called "Alindas" was recognized for objects in a 3:1 resonance with Jupiter.
Any asteroids that ventured into these specific resonances would either crash into an inner planet like Earth or be booted out by flying too close.
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